Adele: 'I was not a recluse'

British superstar Adele has laughed off reports suggesting she became a recluse during her hiatus.

The Rolling In The Deep star stepped out of the spotlight to start a family following the huge international success of her 2011 album 21, and her Bond theme Skyfall which won her a slew of awards, including an Oscar.

During her hiatus, Adele was rarely seen out in public, sparking rumours she had grown tired of fame and become a recluse, but the singer is adamant she did not go into hiding.

"I'm not a recluse," she tells The Observer's Music magazine. "Can we clear that up? I didn't stop going to shops. To parks. To museums. I just wasn't photographed while doing it."

However, Adele admits she does miss out on a lot of events because she is worried about overshadowing her friends.

"I miss my friends... I miss it when life was a party to be thrown... It's lonely. It makes you lonely..." she adds. "Like, maybe me and my friends are going out to celebrate someone's engagement. Or their birthday. Or we're there to wet a baby's head. It's their event - it's not about anyone meeting me. But that's what it becomes. So sometimes it's easier not to go."

Adele has now made a successful return to the charts, scoring a huge hit with her comeback single Hello ahead of the release of her new record 25 later this month (Nov15).

During the interview, the singer also reveals she has turned down a number of lucrative endorsement deals in recent years, including offers to launch cosmetics and fashion lines, write her life story and even money-spinning private performances.

"What have I said no to? Everything you can imagine," she explains. "Literally, every f**king thing. Books, clothes, food ranges, drink ranges, fitness ranges... That's probably the funniest. They wanted me to be the face of a car. Toys. Apps. Candles. It's, like, 'I don't want to endorse a line of nail varnishes, but thanks for asking'. 'A million pounds to sing at your birthday party?' I'd rather do it for free if I'm doing it, cheers..."